Standard Disclaimer
I don't own Oh! My Goddess. This story is fairly dark and well if you don't like it, I'm not making you read it ^_^.
Sorry it took me so long to get back to this story but it is just a part time story for me and in all honesty its almost over. Well hope you enjoy it.
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Fallible Chapter 6 - Broken
To all that viewed her, Belldandy had fully recovered from the disastrous events that transpired over a month ago. The air about her seemed to shine again, given most gods or goddesses rarely saw the now elusive goddess. Usually stowed up in her quarters with only the occasional visit from Skuld, Belldandy mostly kept to herself now, and nobody could argue.
What they failed to notice, due to an overly optimistic view of the once perfect Goddess, was that she had slipped fully into insanity. Her obsession for Keiichi had driven her to points nobody could ever had foresaw. Even Kami-sama chose to bask in the thought that Belldandy could recover from everything without a hitch. They were all terribly wrong.
In her room with Holy Bell, Belldandy was masterminding a plot to recover her lost love from the 'corrupted' world that forced their separation. Her mind was again back on its usual fast pace, only the thoughts were of a more sinister origin.
"I'll get him away from them, soon. I only need a diversion. Holy Bell what could distract everybody long enough?" Her voice had its youthful and song- like quality again.
Holy Bell was as well twisted. The torrent of emotions welled over the angel and she fell with her goddess into the pit. Their minds believing they were doing nothing but good, that they were helping to cleanse the world of the vile oppression that had snuck into it. Holy Bell offered Belldandy her opinion.
Clasping her hands together, Belldandy let out a brilliant smile, one that she often reserved for her love. She had no problem using now as it was for him. Everything she did now was for him and her love. Her tone light and airy, "That'll work perfectly. Yes all we need now is to wait for the perfect time."
Calling upon one of the powers of the ring she had given Skuld, Belldandy watched the world through her sisters eyes. After the destruction of her viewing mirror, Belldandy was left with little options. She couldn't use her clairvoyance, as her soiled father would pick it up. If she could appear on Earth her rival Peorth would act to warn others of her escape from the prison she was in. No, she needed to use Skuld, and Belldandy knew her sister would do anything to help her, even if she didn't know or have a choice about it.
"I'll make them regret doing this horrible thing to Keiichi and I. Just like I did Mara and Aoshima."
Holy Bell cast a barrier spell on the room to mask her master's efforts. They were to close now to fail.
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The sunlight cast its painful glare across Urd's room with its merciless demand for consciousness. Not really enjoying the waking world for the past month, Urd was determined to stay asleep, and away from the hangover. Despite her best efforts, the minute amount of light coupled with the lancelet of pain her previous nights drinking added, Urd rose to a sitting positing in her futon.
Hair hanging limply at her side, clothing usually kept alluringly well kept now sagging and dirty, Urd had a bad feeling about the day. She looked at the wall that she shared with Keiichi and tried to suppress the urge to vomit, another blessing of her constant companion of late, alcohol. She had tried to stop after her encounter with Keiichi a few weeks ago, but just couldn't put the bottle down.
Urd didn't want to see him with Peorth. She didn't want to see him with Belldandy anymore either. So to avoid the reality of her situation she continued to down her sake. Smirking lightly though, she knew Peorth was getting frustrated.
"Peorth'll have to tell him, I sure as hell won't," Urd murmured as she stretched and climbed out of her futon recalling how nobody told Keiichi his Goddess was forever gone. Again however, Urd was amazed at how compassionate and caring the mortal she loved was. Over a month of absence, Belldandy still held sway over Keiichi's heart. It showed by the fact that Peorth was only allowed to sleep by his side in moments of extreme weakness in the man.
Urd had counted only five such occurrences, and she knew very well that Keiichi still didn't believe Peorth loved him romantically. Though she dreaded what would happen when she either told him or he found out on his own.
Taking a few steps over to the shades, Urd drew them closed. 'No light today, it reminds me of her,' she thought sadly of her sister. Sadly of the pain of seeing Belldandy hurt, of seeing Keiichi and Peorth together, and the feeling of betrayal she had for having feelings for Keiichi.
Urd's slow crawl back to her bed was cut short however as a voice called out to her from behind the rice paper door. "Urd, are you awake we have a visitor."
It was Keiichi. His voice rousing her from her stupor, Urd accepted her fate that sleep would be hard coming. Primping herself a bit, Urd went to greet the man she was destined to love and be denied and their unknown guest.
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"What brings you to the temple Sayoko?" Keiichi asked as he led the visually distressed woman inside. Walking into the only semi-light temple interior.
Urd could sense an aura of fear and nervousness around the brash woman. Something was on Sayoko's mind. Not wanting to add undue agitation to the situation, Urd didn't add any barbs about how the 'glory hog' was looking unkempt and strained. "It's really early couldn't this have waited?"
Dismissing the bronzed woman before her, Sayoko took Keiichi's hand as they sat in the kitchen. Looking at Urd as she clumsily found a chair on the opposite end of the table, she felt obligated to inform her, "Its afternoon."
Noticing how Urd's face registered surprise, Keiichi took it upon himself to cover for his depressed friend, "Urd's been a little sick lately so she's been sleeping a lot more. What seems to be the trouble?"
Keiichi tried talking to Urd about her drinking, but he knew she tuned him out. Wallowing in his own pity, Keiichi didn't feel he had the right to enforce his will on her. Turning back to Sayoko, he failed to notice Peorth walking into the kitchen. Clad in her normal clothing. The Goddess of the Roses was not happy to see a stranger sitting so close Keiichi.
Making her presence know to the assembled, Peorth greeted the strange girl, "Maybe she just wants to take advantage of the situation." She illustrated her point by pinching Sayoko's hand that had yet failed to release its grasp after being at. Keiichi for his part, hadn't caught any intent on Sayoko's part other than confusion for her action.
Shaking her head in admonishment, Sayoko spoke, "No, this isn't about that." The women around the table didn't believe her but let her continue. Under the heavy gaze of the two women, "I'm here about Aoshima."
That one word set off a flurry of emotions in Keiichi. Hiding it to the best of his ability he tried to focus on Sayoko. He was finally starting to recover from the pain he suffered that night. He wanted to forget about Aoshima and talk to Belldandy again.
Keiichi's eyes momentarily went hazy as his internal mantra repeated itself, 'We can work something out now.I've had enough time to think.' Urd or Peorth didn't miss the pained look on his face; Sayoko however was ignorant of the entire ordeal. "What about him?" he hoped his words didn't contain too much anger.
Shuffling her feet for a few moments as she thought of how best to state her purpose, Sayoko remained speechless. "He's missing. His car was just found the other day but we can't find him," as she eventually spoke Keiichi realized that for as much as she criticized Aoshima, she did care for him to a degree. "I was wondering if you saw him anywhere."
The three temple residents sank into their chairs. Sayoko's quest could be the result of to many events for them to reason instantly. Exchanging glances to one another and finding each equally clueless allowed for suspicion to sink in.
Urd had her suspicions almost instantly, 'Maybe Peorth did something to him to score points with Keiichi.' Similar thoughts were mirrored in the Goddess of the Roses mind. Running her fingers past a few knots of hair, Urd stared directly at Peorth as she spoke almost accusingly "What makes you think we'd see him?"
'So that's how she's going to play it,' Peorth's mind caught onto Urd's mindset. Leaning over unto the table resting her chin on the palm of her hand, Peorth meet Urd's gaze, "We don't usually go looking for men like him, and he has no reason to come here."
Watching the air between his two goddess friends getting unusually high, Keiichi spoke to Sayoko, "No, we haven't seen Aoshima. Is their any reason to be worried? Maybe he took a train or bus someplace and didn't bring his phone."
Trying to find the possibility in his words, she nodded. She knew Aoshima was far from defenseless, and was one to wonder on many occasions, but just something didn't sit right with her on this. "Maybe you're right. He does go off on his 'hunts' a lot maybe I'm worrying about nothing."
Offering the only human female in the room a smile, Keiichi assured her that was the case. After a few more minutes of small talk, Keiichi noticed the two goddesses had sunk into staring at each other. Urd had sank into her chair and rested her arms behind it, idly rubbing her wrists, while Peorth openly stared into Urd's cobalt eyes. 'Something is happening here that I don't understand. I'm always the last to know this stuff,' Keiichi's mind rambled in confusion.
Standing up and adjusting her clothing that had bunched together as she sat, Sayoko bid the others farewell, "Well I better be off, my last final is today." Walking her to the door, Keiichi was now wondering about Aoshima. Sure he now had nothing anger towards him, he didn't want to see dead. Dark and grizzly images began to run through his mind. So focused on his wondering he failed to hear the voice to his left calling out to him.
"Keiichi?"
Snapping out of his haze he noticing he'd neglecting to give the proper goodbye to his guest. "Sorry, just thinking."
Stepping a little closer to him, Sayoko couldn't help herself. Seeing Keiichi away from Belldandy and in his normal cloths was an oddity. With the knowledge that Belldandy was gone and he was a free man at the moment, she ventured to try a little fun with him, "How much longer will she be gone?"
Needing no explanation of who 'she' was, Keiichi lied, "Belldandy said it should only be a few more months."
Seeing clearly past his attempt at a lie, Sayoko realized that Keiichi had no idea when or even if Belldandy would return. Trying to keep her budding joy at bay, "Maybe we should do something then. Nothing serious just hang out." Sayoko's smile however did much to say otherwise. Looking like a child that found herself unwatched in a toy store, Sayoko was not one to let the opportunity slip past her.
A wave of a familiar feeling washed over him, he was ashamed. 'Everybody has to go out of their way for me lately. Do I look that bad that they all feel the need to do this for me?' Not wanting to hurt Sayoko's feelings for her attempt to bring some joy back into his life, "Maybe we could. Hope things turn out well for you on your final.and finding him."
With a wave she was off, leaving Keiichi to watch the mid-day clouds pass across the sky. As a chill breeze ruffled his hair he sank into his depression again. Thinking of the cause of it ran him in circles. It was the total lack of communication that was getting to him. He had forgiven Belldandy for the accident. He wanted to talk to her, but he couldn't even send a letter. To make matters worse for him, he had the guilt of knowing he was being a burden on Peorth. "Surely she'd rather be someplace else.with somebody else."
Drinking in Keiichi's emotions, Peorth wanted to take him right there. 'He still thinks he's unworthy of my attention. That everything is his fault.' Over the past few weeks Peorth was given a gift, the gift of understanding. For a small time when she first started as Belldandy's replacement, she had a feeling of doubt. She doubted her feelings were truly love and not just infatuation. But actually being with him gave her insight to a great many things.
She saw his good side and his bad side. Peorth saw him trying his best, saw him angry, being polite, hiding the lust that would occasionally make him blush, and all his other quirks and plusses and it told her one thing. That she loved him deeply. 'Sure he's far from perfect, but I don't want perfection. I want him.'
Draping her arms around his shoulders, she hugged him from behind. She smiled at the blush she received by simply pushing her bust a little harder against his back. Whispering in his ear, her warm breath sent shudders down his spine, "Mon Cher, lets go out tonight."
The momentary bout of hormones Keiichi felt drown in a sea of memories that flooded into his mind. Remembering the last 'night-out' he was reluctant, "Do you really want to?" his words practically screaming for her to say no.
She could feel his body go slightly ridged in her arms, his pulse quicken. Anger flashed into her mind, anger and hate for the cause of his continued pain. The duality of Keiichi's mind was getting to her. She could tell he had some feelings for her but his love for the traitorous whore kept him from acting. "Yes, you could use a pleasant night out. Maybe a movie and dinner?"
Again not wanting to hurt those that only wished to help him, he accepted. His body sank back against Peorth's in defeat. A night out could do me a bit of good, he thought. Feeling Peorth's arms tighten slightly, he smiled at how easy she seemed to please. "You've been a great friend to me through all this Peorth. I can't thank you enough."
Breaking away from her embrace, Peorth smiled at Keiichi. Her plan for the night wouldn't involve just dinner and a movie; she was going to tell that mortal something, something that if he didn't believe, she'd show him to be true. 'He'll know its love not friendship I wish to share with him.'
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As the last signs of sunlight pass over the horizon, a young goddess arrived home from a trip to a friend's. Skuld made her way directly to the living room where she suspected to find Urd, conscious or not. As she pushed the divider to the side a wave of heat and the aroma of liquor assaulted her senses
"How long are you going to keep doing this? I'm sick of the smell!" Skuld screeched at the sister she found momentarily awake. She had grown tired of spending time with her eldest sister, and her only reason for staying was to appease Belldandy by keeping an eye on Keiichi and Peorth. However the moment those two stepped out for the evening, she bet Urd starting her nightly ritual. "You're draining Keiichi's finances with all your drinking!"
A minute over exaggeration, but Skuld knew little of the cost of Urd's hobby.
Letting the fiery liquid make its familiar burn down her throat, Urd squinted at her sister. Setting her glass on the table in front of her, Urd cracked her neck before she even attempted to speak. "What do you know? Nothing, that's what. When you're older you'll understand," her voice slurred to the point of near incomprehension. She poured herself another shot. She didn't want to talk to Skuld right now, not with the knowledge that Peorth was most likely draped over Keiichi like a shawl.
Turning away from her sister, Urd sprawled her body on the floor in an showing that would have caused an earlier Keiichi to blood profusely. Urd had all intention of getting plastered and heading to her room long before the pair returned, if they returned she thought to herself.
Stomping over to the table where Urd was lying, Skuld made an attempt to swipe the bottle from her. Grasping the bottle's neck Skuld gave it a strong tug and liberated it from the fumbling hands of its owner. "How will he survive is you spend all his money? He won't let us take care of him Urd."
Making a stumbling lurch for the bottle that held her salvation from her problems, Urd was growing angry. "So I'll make money for my booze, that make you happy?" Forcing her aching body to its feet, the Goddess of the Past was going to get her drink back, even if it meant putting her sister down to do it.
Stepping back far enough to stay out of Urd's grasp, Skuld had a small feeling of joy as her sister lost her balance and fall face forward onto the ground, however it was quickly replaced with pity. "What will Belldandy think when she gets back? She's doing so much better now."
Her anger reaching a peak, Urd enlightened Skuld about the possibility of Belldandy's return. As Skuld's eyes widened as realization set in, Urd recovered her bottle, "Sucks doesn't it." Opting to forget the glass, Urd chugged directly from the bottle. Watching the black haired child through the amber colored liquid, the Norn of the past thought 'finally that shut her up.'
"Then.then why would she keep asking me to keep Keiichi safe from Peorth? She has to be coming back!" Skuld cried as tears started forming in her eyes. In her mind, she had saw her sister and Keiichi's love as a beautiful thing. Skuld doubted Belldandy would wish Keiichi be forever alone, even if it wasn't with her.
Removing the bottle from her still parted lips, Urd continued to look at Skuld. Through the buzzing and clicking in her mind, the gears started to turn. "How much.time you been spending with Bell?" In her continued stupor Urd hadn't really been keeping track of her youngest sisters coming and goings.
Found trapped in a corner, Skuld admitted to having frequently visiting Belldandy's celestial dwelling. She left out the other parts about the CD of the Gods and of the ring she now wore safely out of her recount. Urd dismissed the growing fear in her heart, 'Belldandy couldn't be up to something, she's not the type.' The seed of doubt was planted however.
Both sisters sat in contemplation. Things were happening all around them, and they all pointed to a dark ending. Just before Urd asked her next question, the doorbell sounded the arrival of another guest.
"Hey guys, Keiichi around?" Megumi asked the two girls that, to her, seemed to be having an argument. Hardly something she hadn't been used to seeing before. More and more often Megumi noticed.
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Sitting around the small table, the two Norns and the human where enjoying poorly made pot of tea. Megumi tasted her cup and was reminded not to allow Skuld to make tea in the future. Putting the bland Earl Grey back on the table, Megumi inquired, "Where's Keiichi? He's not usually out this late."
The goddesses didn't know if telling Megumi was the best thing to do. Both had suspected Keiichi told Megumi about the true reason Belldandy was gone, but how she'd react to his being around Peorth was the mystery. Seeing that Skuld was unusually tightlipped, Urd took it upon herself to again deliver the bad news, "He's out with Peorth right now."
Instantly catching Urd's tone, Megumi could tell the elder woman was anything but happy about this situation. "Dang, I wanted to tell him about my finals. Are they going to be home anytime soon?" In her own opinion, Megumi didn't honestly have many problems with Keiichi seeing the other woman. After thinking about what Belldandy did, Megumi doubted any lasting relationship could have remained between Keiichi and her. She hoped to avoid the discussion about Keiichi and Peorth however as the few previous debates with Urd had been loud and unhelpful.
Skuld's voice lacked most of its youthful energy; something seemed to almost draining her. "Should be back pretty soon. Hopefully." Fidgeting in her chair and swirling her tea idly with a spoon, Skuld was growing very nervous. Knowing that as soon as Megumi left, Urd was going to question her again about her time with Belldandy. Skuld wanted Megumi to stay as long as possible, her hopes were Keiichi and Peorth would return and her visits to the heavens would be forgotten.
Not favoring tact, Urd simply stated that the time of return really couldn't be set as Peorth would most likely drag Keiichi off to a motel and 'show her love' for him by attempting to break his pelvis with her body.
The twin outbursts at Urd's side gave a shot of support to her thought. It meant that they two were thinking Peorth was capable of such an act, and they were just too cowardly to say it. 'Leave it to the drunk to ramble off,' they thought in unison. Urd was used to the insinuation.
Finding it necessary to defend her brother, Megumi stood up from her chair and said loudly, "I don't think Keiichi would let her do something like that. Sure he's a guy but he isn't one to sleep around."
Smiling bitterly and knowing it was only a half-truth, Urd told Megumi that Peorth had actually already slept in his bed. She left out the part about Keiichi being an emotional wasteland during those times. Megumi took her seat, her face a few shades paler than what it had just been.
Doubting it was as serious as Urd said. Megumi didn't believe the whole story. She had seen a lot of temptation pass Keiichi's eyes and he didn't act on any of it. The Morisato sense of family pride and honor light the fire of her agitation.
"Nothing happened though. She just kissed him while he was sleeping," the youngest at the table informed the others. Urd and Megumi looked quizzically at the child, Skuld guessed they didn't think she was capable of doing her duty in protecting Keiichi. She show them, she wouldn't fail her sister.
Still being pushed forward by her devotion to her brother, Megumi had to defend her point. "Even if he did, its only because he's a wreck right now. As soon as Belldandy gets back and they talk about things. This whole Peorth thing will be done with. He's not a guy to jump any girl and you know it" The spark of agitation was growing into a fire as Megumi saw look in Urd's eyes.
"Tell her Skuld," Urd's simple words cast terror into both Megumi and Skuld's hearts. Megumi could feel her heart beating between her ears, with the nature of the conversation the next few words could have a great deal of significance.
Skuld's voice was lost to her. By telling Megumi, Skuld would have to accept the fact that Belldandy would never again grace the temple grounds, or the Morisato siblings either. She didn't want to tell her but the firm look on Urd's face told her she would take no refusal.
Slightly above a whisper, Skuld told Megumi the awful truth. Megumi's response was to drop the teacup she was slowly brining to her lips. The crash resonated in the small room as the pieces were sent flying to the four corners of the room. Remaining silent for a few minutes, they all just let it sink in. A steady dripping sound reminded them of the ruined cup and the tea that souped up the dust that had not been cleaned since Belldandy had left. Megumi's mind raced about the way her brother was acting and the things he said, and she grew angry, very angry.
Megumi remembered how Keiichi continually spoke of when Bell returned they'd talk. He told her that he wouldn't do anything with Peorth because he had Belldandy, even if they weren't seeing each other. Keiichi'd tell her during their lunch meetings about how he'd do a few things in his sadness that he was not proud of, the exact 'things' he left out. Megumi guessed that it was the shared bed space. 'He's been holding the torch for Bell this long and for nothing. He's been beating himself up for seeking support for cheating on a girl he'll never see again. And Urd is just letting him wallow in that sorrow!" That was the final straw, and Megumi's fire of agitation became an inferno of anger.
Her face growing red and her voice a shrill yell, "You didn't tell him did you? You're judging him on seeing Peorth out of need for comfort as he waits endlessly for her to return and you won't tell him!"
Urd's shout matched Megumi's in volume, "I can't tell him! Why do I have to be the bearer of bad news! Why can't I tell him good news for a change?"
Skuld sneaked out of the room, driven by an unknown urge to be someplace else, she listened to the urge. The Goddess of the Future was easily able to leave undetected as the two women hurled comments at each other. Megumi now fully understood why Keiichi was acting how he was with Peorth and found she agreed with him. 'Belldandy cheated on him and he wanted to get a form of revenge but not go as far as she did. His beating himself over nothing and Urd is letting him!'
The month of pent up anger, fear, love, and a many other emotions fueled Urd's debate. Face to face, the two continued. Veins showing on Megumi's temple and Urd's slurred alcohol flavored breath brushing Megumi's face. The two harped on Keiichi's, Belldandy's, and even Peorth's choice of action. However it ended when Urd made one slip, and Megumi caught it.
Eyes wide from the epiphany that she had received. "You want Peorth to leave him so you can have him. This whole thing, the anger at him, Peorth, and even your own sister.is so you can get a chance at him." Megumi's face a mockery of joy to finally have a card to play on the aggressive Urd.
Her inner most desire thrown into her face, Urd did the only thing she could, she denied it, "Get out!"
"I plan on it. I don't really want to talk to you right now anyway," Megumi said as she stormed out of the kitchen and then the temple grounds. Walking back to her apartment in the chilling night air, Megumi hoped the dating pair wouldn't be back till morning. Keiichi deserved to be happy just as much as the next person. Who was Urd to make him suffer for her own attempt at happiness? 'Go for it K1, you have my blessing.'
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Twenty minutes later, walking home from the pleasant and relaxing dinner, Keiichi felt Peorth's weight on his side. Claiming she was cold, Peorth and latched onto his side to share warmth. He was plenty warm. Peorth was constantly there for him, but he was starting to think thoughts about the two of them that he didn't humor before.
"Thanks for taking me out tonight, it really was really nice," he said with a smile.
Giving his arm a small squeeze, "It was my pleasure. We should do it more often you know." Peorth meant every word of it. Human courting rituals, the real ones not the ones in Skuld's manga that she had tried long before, were full of hidden happiness. Watching him in the darkness of the theatre, eating his food, and just being with him filled Peorth with what Belldandy used to live with everyday, faults and all.
She know also knew why Belldandy had made her mistake, but she wasn't going to repeat it, she'd be patient. "Keiichi, I think we need to talk about something."
Finding themselves standing outside the temple gates, Keiichi turned to face the woman on his side as he walked. His mind was awaiting Peorth to tell him that she had grown tired of being their for him and was going to leave, or that maybe Belldandy was soon to be back and that the date was the last thing they'd do together. He conveyed all that to Peorth with one word, "Ok."
Looking into his eyes, the Rose Goddess lost her words. Everything she wanted to say evaporated into the light of his eyes. She unlocked her arm from his and forced Keiichi to stop his assent into the compound. As he looked at her quizzically, she found her strength to continue. "Why do you think I'm here right now?"
Feeling the weight of the conversation shift unto him, Keiichi found that honesty was the best policy; he told her why he thought that she was there. He told her that he thought she was their as a friend to help him through this, that he was just a burden with his problems. He also apologized for being such a pain, and saying he knew Peorth most likely wished to be elsewhere.
His response caused a demur laugh to erupt from Peorth's lips. Smiling widely and stepping closer to him, she told Keiichi the truth. "I'm here because I love you Keiichi. With all my heart and soul."
Dumbstruck, Keiichi looked at the goddess before him. All illusions cast aside, he had his suspicions but wouldn't believe them not until she told him. Standing stock still, the man let Peorth wrap her arms around him again, and tilted his head up when she bent slightly closer to him.
From the doorway of the temple, Skuld witnessed the whole thing, and another, Belldandy, was watching what Skuld was seeing.
His mind fogged over by the whole thing, Keiichi suddenly felt Peorth's warm lips on his. Almost instinctively his arms encircled her body and pulled her closer to him. Mind on automatic, Keiichi felt his love for Peorth resonate as well. Nowhere near his love for Belldandy, but at the moment that was forgotten.
In a state of bliss, Peorth pushed forward, opening her lips and causing Keiichi to do the same, her hands attempting to feel is entire back at the same time. The kiss would have intensified more so, if Skuld hadn't fallen over in shock. The crash of body on board broke Keiichi from his emotional state and he pulled away, much to Peorth's dislike.
Realization dawned on the poor boy and he felt ashamed, he'd betrayed Belldandy. A betrayal beyond the small things he had done to feel on par, no this was in his mind to far. Softly pushing himself out of the woman's embrace, Keiichi apologized again and ran into the temple, leaving Peorth to glare at the fallen goddess of the Future and scorn her.
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As Peorth hunted down the rouge Goddess of the Future, Belldandy had finally saw enough. Witnessing Peorth work magic on Keiichi and make such a bold transgression was enough to push the Norn into action.
Speaking in a cool and calculated tone, Belldandy was focused. "We'll have to be quick Holy Bell. We release it, get Keiichi, and hid. Then we free his mind."
Nodding to her master, Holy Bell was in total agreement. They were going to break an even greater taboo than releasing the Lord of Terror. The demons ultimate creation was to be released as their cover. There would be no turning back after that point.
But their love for him wouldn't allow for anything else. They had to have him back, they couldn't let anyone take him away. Those who corrupted the world, corrupted him, and imprisoned her would have to live in the world they created while they lived together in love and happiness.
"Yes, that is how it was to be." Belldandy nodded to her own twisted logic. Looking at her angel, "We'll talk to my sisters, surely they'll agree with me and come with us, a happy family again." The twisting doubt in her mind disavowed, surely Urd would side with her and not Peorth. Belldandy's face was an ugly parody of its usual beauty, as she smiled with the images of punishing Peorth.
Using her magic to transform into her battle gear, Belldandy called upon knowledge know to only the most elite of Kami-sama's Goddesses and Gods. Teleporting to the outer reaches of the solar system, she stood with Holy Bell at her side before the mightiest of Heaven's seals. Finding her footfall on the icy surface of Pluto, the chill of the universe wasn't even noticed by the Goddess. Stepping past crater and debree, Belldandy saw her target.
Virtually hidden under a menagerie of warding seals was a small blue tinted portal. Belldandy could feel the awesome power behind the bindings and of the monster they barely kept in check. The last lingering thread of sanity snapped as she set about her work.
"For my love for Keiichi, for his love for me, for the cleansing of the corrupt world I release you." Belldandy began creating the ward to break the hidden ward. Nobody would know she was their as so few knew of its existence. "Come forth Legion*!" Her voice was commanding and joyous as she envisioned her victory.
Stressing her full powers to the max, Belldandy was just barely able to force her will into affect and let loose her plan. Giving her master support, Holy Bell made ready the next phase.
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Having her plan of showing Keiichi the depth of her love ruined by Skuld, Peorth wasn't really in any mood to have a chat right now. Urd, however, didn't care so the three goddesses sat in a circle in the living room. Skuld seemed in a state of shock, while Urd just looked pissed.
"What did you do to him?" was all Urd said. Having seen Keiichi rush past her and into his room in a state of near hysterics was enough to tell her something had happened.
Looking levelly at the platinum haired goddess, Peorth told Urd that she did nothing that Urd didn't want to do herself. She added that if Skuld hadn't ruined things she'd have done a lot more.
"So that's why he's worse now than before? Because you just kissed him?" Urd wasn't in a very trusting state of mind.
Meekly Skuld offered her opinion, "Maybe he's ashamed because he thinks he betrayed Belldandy?"
The other goddesses paid her no attention, what would a child know of adult affairs. Hurling insults and threats at each other, they almost didn't hear the phone ringing. Skuld did, and answered it.
Putting the receiver back on the phone after the call, Skuld was perplexed. All surface world celestial beings were on high alert in their sections for an entity known as 'Legion.' The only info that she was told was to ask Urd about it.
The dueling Goddess of the Past and of the Roses still had yet to stop to notice anything save the person in front of them. Screaming for quiet, Skuld finally got some attention.
With two sets of eyes on her, both equally angry, Skuld simply asked, "What is Legion?"
The response she received was far from comforting; Urd's jaw unhinged and she sank to the flow, while Peorth's face drained of all color. Skuld reasoned that the obviously knew something. Urd's knowledge came from what little she could pry from Belldandy and her mother. Peorth was granted access to the files as her head of systems administration. Out side of them, only Kami-sama and a handful of the most powerful beings knew of it.
"Why did you ask that Skuld?" they questioned in unison.
Replying with information about the phone call saying Legion was released and is somewhere on Earth, and all available personnel were to scout their location for it.
"What is going on with the planet? Why can't anything go right!" Urd bellowed.
As Urd vented her rage, Peorth felt obligated to tell the uniformed of what exactly they were to be hunting. "Skuld, Legion was and is the greatest weapon the Demons created against us. It was so powerful in fact that it rebelled against them"
Confused by the possibility of a weapon while the dublet system was in place, Skuld asked how any weapon could affect the Heavens at all.
"What Legion is, is an combination of over two-hundred demons, initially. It's an entity that grows and feeds off negative emotions. Hiding anywhere it leeches emotions, growing ever more powerful."
Having her question still not answered, Skuld asked again, "How can it hurt us when it would kill the dublet pair as well?"
Taking a deep breath, Peorth let the last of her information about Legion be known. "When we tried to seal it after its first release, it absorbed us. It didn't kill us, no it made those it captured part of itself, giving it more knowledge, power, and abilities. It was a work of pure evil and we would have finally lost if it hadn't turned and began absorbing demons as well." Peorth noted the fear and shock on the young goddesses face, and rightly so. "Only with a combined assault were we able to seal it. We sealed it so we could try to find a way of liberating its captives instead of killing them."
Feeling sorely left out of the information loop, "Why didn't I know of this thing till now?"
"The battle was so long ago, and Legion's power so great it was decided that both sides would declare ignorance of it. It had to be destroyed but it's to powerful right now. Only the highest ranking of both orders know if it."
Fear creeping deeper into her, "Then who could have the knowledge and power to release it?"
Urd looked to Peorth as she looked to her, they both knew who could. "KEIICHI!"
In a mad dash to his room, deep dread laced their actions. Both hoping they were just over reacting, that it couldn't possibly be Belldandy that would release Legion. But the cards were falling into place.
Why hadn't Mara shown up to gloat? Where did Aoshima go?
But why? Surely Belldandy wouldn't go so far.
Throwing the door open so hard it fell off its hinges, the goddesses saw nothing but an empty room. Empty except for one thing.
Picking a small item off the ground, Urd looked at it carefully.
"What is it Urd?" Peorth asked, the fear reacting a crescendo.
Clenching it in her hand, Urd felt the soft and silky material in her hand and wanted to cry, "Its one of Holy Bell's feathers."
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*Legion is noted in many places. When Jesus performed an exorcism the demon named it self 'Legion.' Legion made other Biblical appearances. Scholars disagree a lot on its concept. I'm borrowing from the more Stephen King Legion from 'IT' where legion is a collection of over 200 demons and the souls of those it killed/driven insane.
Hope you are finding the story a good read and continue to support it. Last chapter coming up soon.Look for it ^_^
Ja Mata
Zentrodie www.geocities.com/zentrodie.geo zentrodie@secondimpact.com
I don't own Oh! My Goddess. This story is fairly dark and well if you don't like it, I'm not making you read it ^_^.
Sorry it took me so long to get back to this story but it is just a part time story for me and in all honesty its almost over. Well hope you enjoy it.
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Fallible Chapter 6 - Broken
To all that viewed her, Belldandy had fully recovered from the disastrous events that transpired over a month ago. The air about her seemed to shine again, given most gods or goddesses rarely saw the now elusive goddess. Usually stowed up in her quarters with only the occasional visit from Skuld, Belldandy mostly kept to herself now, and nobody could argue.
What they failed to notice, due to an overly optimistic view of the once perfect Goddess, was that she had slipped fully into insanity. Her obsession for Keiichi had driven her to points nobody could ever had foresaw. Even Kami-sama chose to bask in the thought that Belldandy could recover from everything without a hitch. They were all terribly wrong.
In her room with Holy Bell, Belldandy was masterminding a plot to recover her lost love from the 'corrupted' world that forced their separation. Her mind was again back on its usual fast pace, only the thoughts were of a more sinister origin.
"I'll get him away from them, soon. I only need a diversion. Holy Bell what could distract everybody long enough?" Her voice had its youthful and song- like quality again.
Holy Bell was as well twisted. The torrent of emotions welled over the angel and she fell with her goddess into the pit. Their minds believing they were doing nothing but good, that they were helping to cleanse the world of the vile oppression that had snuck into it. Holy Bell offered Belldandy her opinion.
Clasping her hands together, Belldandy let out a brilliant smile, one that she often reserved for her love. She had no problem using now as it was for him. Everything she did now was for him and her love. Her tone light and airy, "That'll work perfectly. Yes all we need now is to wait for the perfect time."
Calling upon one of the powers of the ring she had given Skuld, Belldandy watched the world through her sisters eyes. After the destruction of her viewing mirror, Belldandy was left with little options. She couldn't use her clairvoyance, as her soiled father would pick it up. If she could appear on Earth her rival Peorth would act to warn others of her escape from the prison she was in. No, she needed to use Skuld, and Belldandy knew her sister would do anything to help her, even if she didn't know or have a choice about it.
"I'll make them regret doing this horrible thing to Keiichi and I. Just like I did Mara and Aoshima."
Holy Bell cast a barrier spell on the room to mask her master's efforts. They were to close now to fail.
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The sunlight cast its painful glare across Urd's room with its merciless demand for consciousness. Not really enjoying the waking world for the past month, Urd was determined to stay asleep, and away from the hangover. Despite her best efforts, the minute amount of light coupled with the lancelet of pain her previous nights drinking added, Urd rose to a sitting positing in her futon.
Hair hanging limply at her side, clothing usually kept alluringly well kept now sagging and dirty, Urd had a bad feeling about the day. She looked at the wall that she shared with Keiichi and tried to suppress the urge to vomit, another blessing of her constant companion of late, alcohol. She had tried to stop after her encounter with Keiichi a few weeks ago, but just couldn't put the bottle down.
Urd didn't want to see him with Peorth. She didn't want to see him with Belldandy anymore either. So to avoid the reality of her situation she continued to down her sake. Smirking lightly though, she knew Peorth was getting frustrated.
"Peorth'll have to tell him, I sure as hell won't," Urd murmured as she stretched and climbed out of her futon recalling how nobody told Keiichi his Goddess was forever gone. Again however, Urd was amazed at how compassionate and caring the mortal she loved was. Over a month of absence, Belldandy still held sway over Keiichi's heart. It showed by the fact that Peorth was only allowed to sleep by his side in moments of extreme weakness in the man.
Urd had counted only five such occurrences, and she knew very well that Keiichi still didn't believe Peorth loved him romantically. Though she dreaded what would happen when she either told him or he found out on his own.
Taking a few steps over to the shades, Urd drew them closed. 'No light today, it reminds me of her,' she thought sadly of her sister. Sadly of the pain of seeing Belldandy hurt, of seeing Keiichi and Peorth together, and the feeling of betrayal she had for having feelings for Keiichi.
Urd's slow crawl back to her bed was cut short however as a voice called out to her from behind the rice paper door. "Urd, are you awake we have a visitor."
It was Keiichi. His voice rousing her from her stupor, Urd accepted her fate that sleep would be hard coming. Primping herself a bit, Urd went to greet the man she was destined to love and be denied and their unknown guest.
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"What brings you to the temple Sayoko?" Keiichi asked as he led the visually distressed woman inside. Walking into the only semi-light temple interior.
Urd could sense an aura of fear and nervousness around the brash woman. Something was on Sayoko's mind. Not wanting to add undue agitation to the situation, Urd didn't add any barbs about how the 'glory hog' was looking unkempt and strained. "It's really early couldn't this have waited?"
Dismissing the bronzed woman before her, Sayoko took Keiichi's hand as they sat in the kitchen. Looking at Urd as she clumsily found a chair on the opposite end of the table, she felt obligated to inform her, "Its afternoon."
Noticing how Urd's face registered surprise, Keiichi took it upon himself to cover for his depressed friend, "Urd's been a little sick lately so she's been sleeping a lot more. What seems to be the trouble?"
Keiichi tried talking to Urd about her drinking, but he knew she tuned him out. Wallowing in his own pity, Keiichi didn't feel he had the right to enforce his will on her. Turning back to Sayoko, he failed to notice Peorth walking into the kitchen. Clad in her normal clothing. The Goddess of the Roses was not happy to see a stranger sitting so close Keiichi.
Making her presence know to the assembled, Peorth greeted the strange girl, "Maybe she just wants to take advantage of the situation." She illustrated her point by pinching Sayoko's hand that had yet failed to release its grasp after being at. Keiichi for his part, hadn't caught any intent on Sayoko's part other than confusion for her action.
Shaking her head in admonishment, Sayoko spoke, "No, this isn't about that." The women around the table didn't believe her but let her continue. Under the heavy gaze of the two women, "I'm here about Aoshima."
That one word set off a flurry of emotions in Keiichi. Hiding it to the best of his ability he tried to focus on Sayoko. He was finally starting to recover from the pain he suffered that night. He wanted to forget about Aoshima and talk to Belldandy again.
Keiichi's eyes momentarily went hazy as his internal mantra repeated itself, 'We can work something out now.I've had enough time to think.' Urd or Peorth didn't miss the pained look on his face; Sayoko however was ignorant of the entire ordeal. "What about him?" he hoped his words didn't contain too much anger.
Shuffling her feet for a few moments as she thought of how best to state her purpose, Sayoko remained speechless. "He's missing. His car was just found the other day but we can't find him," as she eventually spoke Keiichi realized that for as much as she criticized Aoshima, she did care for him to a degree. "I was wondering if you saw him anywhere."
The three temple residents sank into their chairs. Sayoko's quest could be the result of to many events for them to reason instantly. Exchanging glances to one another and finding each equally clueless allowed for suspicion to sink in.
Urd had her suspicions almost instantly, 'Maybe Peorth did something to him to score points with Keiichi.' Similar thoughts were mirrored in the Goddess of the Roses mind. Running her fingers past a few knots of hair, Urd stared directly at Peorth as she spoke almost accusingly "What makes you think we'd see him?"
'So that's how she's going to play it,' Peorth's mind caught onto Urd's mindset. Leaning over unto the table resting her chin on the palm of her hand, Peorth meet Urd's gaze, "We don't usually go looking for men like him, and he has no reason to come here."
Watching the air between his two goddess friends getting unusually high, Keiichi spoke to Sayoko, "No, we haven't seen Aoshima. Is their any reason to be worried? Maybe he took a train or bus someplace and didn't bring his phone."
Trying to find the possibility in his words, she nodded. She knew Aoshima was far from defenseless, and was one to wonder on many occasions, but just something didn't sit right with her on this. "Maybe you're right. He does go off on his 'hunts' a lot maybe I'm worrying about nothing."
Offering the only human female in the room a smile, Keiichi assured her that was the case. After a few more minutes of small talk, Keiichi noticed the two goddesses had sunk into staring at each other. Urd had sank into her chair and rested her arms behind it, idly rubbing her wrists, while Peorth openly stared into Urd's cobalt eyes. 'Something is happening here that I don't understand. I'm always the last to know this stuff,' Keiichi's mind rambled in confusion.
Standing up and adjusting her clothing that had bunched together as she sat, Sayoko bid the others farewell, "Well I better be off, my last final is today." Walking her to the door, Keiichi was now wondering about Aoshima. Sure he now had nothing anger towards him, he didn't want to see dead. Dark and grizzly images began to run through his mind. So focused on his wondering he failed to hear the voice to his left calling out to him.
"Keiichi?"
Snapping out of his haze he noticing he'd neglecting to give the proper goodbye to his guest. "Sorry, just thinking."
Stepping a little closer to him, Sayoko couldn't help herself. Seeing Keiichi away from Belldandy and in his normal cloths was an oddity. With the knowledge that Belldandy was gone and he was a free man at the moment, she ventured to try a little fun with him, "How much longer will she be gone?"
Needing no explanation of who 'she' was, Keiichi lied, "Belldandy said it should only be a few more months."
Seeing clearly past his attempt at a lie, Sayoko realized that Keiichi had no idea when or even if Belldandy would return. Trying to keep her budding joy at bay, "Maybe we should do something then. Nothing serious just hang out." Sayoko's smile however did much to say otherwise. Looking like a child that found herself unwatched in a toy store, Sayoko was not one to let the opportunity slip past her.
A wave of a familiar feeling washed over him, he was ashamed. 'Everybody has to go out of their way for me lately. Do I look that bad that they all feel the need to do this for me?' Not wanting to hurt Sayoko's feelings for her attempt to bring some joy back into his life, "Maybe we could. Hope things turn out well for you on your final.and finding him."
With a wave she was off, leaving Keiichi to watch the mid-day clouds pass across the sky. As a chill breeze ruffled his hair he sank into his depression again. Thinking of the cause of it ran him in circles. It was the total lack of communication that was getting to him. He had forgiven Belldandy for the accident. He wanted to talk to her, but he couldn't even send a letter. To make matters worse for him, he had the guilt of knowing he was being a burden on Peorth. "Surely she'd rather be someplace else.with somebody else."
Drinking in Keiichi's emotions, Peorth wanted to take him right there. 'He still thinks he's unworthy of my attention. That everything is his fault.' Over the past few weeks Peorth was given a gift, the gift of understanding. For a small time when she first started as Belldandy's replacement, she had a feeling of doubt. She doubted her feelings were truly love and not just infatuation. But actually being with him gave her insight to a great many things.
She saw his good side and his bad side. Peorth saw him trying his best, saw him angry, being polite, hiding the lust that would occasionally make him blush, and all his other quirks and plusses and it told her one thing. That she loved him deeply. 'Sure he's far from perfect, but I don't want perfection. I want him.'
Draping her arms around his shoulders, she hugged him from behind. She smiled at the blush she received by simply pushing her bust a little harder against his back. Whispering in his ear, her warm breath sent shudders down his spine, "Mon Cher, lets go out tonight."
The momentary bout of hormones Keiichi felt drown in a sea of memories that flooded into his mind. Remembering the last 'night-out' he was reluctant, "Do you really want to?" his words practically screaming for her to say no.
She could feel his body go slightly ridged in her arms, his pulse quicken. Anger flashed into her mind, anger and hate for the cause of his continued pain. The duality of Keiichi's mind was getting to her. She could tell he had some feelings for her but his love for the traitorous whore kept him from acting. "Yes, you could use a pleasant night out. Maybe a movie and dinner?"
Again not wanting to hurt those that only wished to help him, he accepted. His body sank back against Peorth's in defeat. A night out could do me a bit of good, he thought. Feeling Peorth's arms tighten slightly, he smiled at how easy she seemed to please. "You've been a great friend to me through all this Peorth. I can't thank you enough."
Breaking away from her embrace, Peorth smiled at Keiichi. Her plan for the night wouldn't involve just dinner and a movie; she was going to tell that mortal something, something that if he didn't believe, she'd show him to be true. 'He'll know its love not friendship I wish to share with him.'
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As the last signs of sunlight pass over the horizon, a young goddess arrived home from a trip to a friend's. Skuld made her way directly to the living room where she suspected to find Urd, conscious or not. As she pushed the divider to the side a wave of heat and the aroma of liquor assaulted her senses
"How long are you going to keep doing this? I'm sick of the smell!" Skuld screeched at the sister she found momentarily awake. She had grown tired of spending time with her eldest sister, and her only reason for staying was to appease Belldandy by keeping an eye on Keiichi and Peorth. However the moment those two stepped out for the evening, she bet Urd starting her nightly ritual. "You're draining Keiichi's finances with all your drinking!"
A minute over exaggeration, but Skuld knew little of the cost of Urd's hobby.
Letting the fiery liquid make its familiar burn down her throat, Urd squinted at her sister. Setting her glass on the table in front of her, Urd cracked her neck before she even attempted to speak. "What do you know? Nothing, that's what. When you're older you'll understand," her voice slurred to the point of near incomprehension. She poured herself another shot. She didn't want to talk to Skuld right now, not with the knowledge that Peorth was most likely draped over Keiichi like a shawl.
Turning away from her sister, Urd sprawled her body on the floor in an showing that would have caused an earlier Keiichi to blood profusely. Urd had all intention of getting plastered and heading to her room long before the pair returned, if they returned she thought to herself.
Stomping over to the table where Urd was lying, Skuld made an attempt to swipe the bottle from her. Grasping the bottle's neck Skuld gave it a strong tug and liberated it from the fumbling hands of its owner. "How will he survive is you spend all his money? He won't let us take care of him Urd."
Making a stumbling lurch for the bottle that held her salvation from her problems, Urd was growing angry. "So I'll make money for my booze, that make you happy?" Forcing her aching body to its feet, the Goddess of the Past was going to get her drink back, even if it meant putting her sister down to do it.
Stepping back far enough to stay out of Urd's grasp, Skuld had a small feeling of joy as her sister lost her balance and fall face forward onto the ground, however it was quickly replaced with pity. "What will Belldandy think when she gets back? She's doing so much better now."
Her anger reaching a peak, Urd enlightened Skuld about the possibility of Belldandy's return. As Skuld's eyes widened as realization set in, Urd recovered her bottle, "Sucks doesn't it." Opting to forget the glass, Urd chugged directly from the bottle. Watching the black haired child through the amber colored liquid, the Norn of the past thought 'finally that shut her up.'
"Then.then why would she keep asking me to keep Keiichi safe from Peorth? She has to be coming back!" Skuld cried as tears started forming in her eyes. In her mind, she had saw her sister and Keiichi's love as a beautiful thing. Skuld doubted Belldandy would wish Keiichi be forever alone, even if it wasn't with her.
Removing the bottle from her still parted lips, Urd continued to look at Skuld. Through the buzzing and clicking in her mind, the gears started to turn. "How much.time you been spending with Bell?" In her continued stupor Urd hadn't really been keeping track of her youngest sisters coming and goings.
Found trapped in a corner, Skuld admitted to having frequently visiting Belldandy's celestial dwelling. She left out the other parts about the CD of the Gods and of the ring she now wore safely out of her recount. Urd dismissed the growing fear in her heart, 'Belldandy couldn't be up to something, she's not the type.' The seed of doubt was planted however.
Both sisters sat in contemplation. Things were happening all around them, and they all pointed to a dark ending. Just before Urd asked her next question, the doorbell sounded the arrival of another guest.
"Hey guys, Keiichi around?" Megumi asked the two girls that, to her, seemed to be having an argument. Hardly something she hadn't been used to seeing before. More and more often Megumi noticed.
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Sitting around the small table, the two Norns and the human where enjoying poorly made pot of tea. Megumi tasted her cup and was reminded not to allow Skuld to make tea in the future. Putting the bland Earl Grey back on the table, Megumi inquired, "Where's Keiichi? He's not usually out this late."
The goddesses didn't know if telling Megumi was the best thing to do. Both had suspected Keiichi told Megumi about the true reason Belldandy was gone, but how she'd react to his being around Peorth was the mystery. Seeing that Skuld was unusually tightlipped, Urd took it upon herself to again deliver the bad news, "He's out with Peorth right now."
Instantly catching Urd's tone, Megumi could tell the elder woman was anything but happy about this situation. "Dang, I wanted to tell him about my finals. Are they going to be home anytime soon?" In her own opinion, Megumi didn't honestly have many problems with Keiichi seeing the other woman. After thinking about what Belldandy did, Megumi doubted any lasting relationship could have remained between Keiichi and her. She hoped to avoid the discussion about Keiichi and Peorth however as the few previous debates with Urd had been loud and unhelpful.
Skuld's voice lacked most of its youthful energy; something seemed to almost draining her. "Should be back pretty soon. Hopefully." Fidgeting in her chair and swirling her tea idly with a spoon, Skuld was growing very nervous. Knowing that as soon as Megumi left, Urd was going to question her again about her time with Belldandy. Skuld wanted Megumi to stay as long as possible, her hopes were Keiichi and Peorth would return and her visits to the heavens would be forgotten.
Not favoring tact, Urd simply stated that the time of return really couldn't be set as Peorth would most likely drag Keiichi off to a motel and 'show her love' for him by attempting to break his pelvis with her body.
The twin outbursts at Urd's side gave a shot of support to her thought. It meant that they two were thinking Peorth was capable of such an act, and they were just too cowardly to say it. 'Leave it to the drunk to ramble off,' they thought in unison. Urd was used to the insinuation.
Finding it necessary to defend her brother, Megumi stood up from her chair and said loudly, "I don't think Keiichi would let her do something like that. Sure he's a guy but he isn't one to sleep around."
Smiling bitterly and knowing it was only a half-truth, Urd told Megumi that Peorth had actually already slept in his bed. She left out the part about Keiichi being an emotional wasteland during those times. Megumi took her seat, her face a few shades paler than what it had just been.
Doubting it was as serious as Urd said. Megumi didn't believe the whole story. She had seen a lot of temptation pass Keiichi's eyes and he didn't act on any of it. The Morisato sense of family pride and honor light the fire of her agitation.
"Nothing happened though. She just kissed him while he was sleeping," the youngest at the table informed the others. Urd and Megumi looked quizzically at the child, Skuld guessed they didn't think she was capable of doing her duty in protecting Keiichi. She show them, she wouldn't fail her sister.
Still being pushed forward by her devotion to her brother, Megumi had to defend her point. "Even if he did, its only because he's a wreck right now. As soon as Belldandy gets back and they talk about things. This whole Peorth thing will be done with. He's not a guy to jump any girl and you know it" The spark of agitation was growing into a fire as Megumi saw look in Urd's eyes.
"Tell her Skuld," Urd's simple words cast terror into both Megumi and Skuld's hearts. Megumi could feel her heart beating between her ears, with the nature of the conversation the next few words could have a great deal of significance.
Skuld's voice was lost to her. By telling Megumi, Skuld would have to accept the fact that Belldandy would never again grace the temple grounds, or the Morisato siblings either. She didn't want to tell her but the firm look on Urd's face told her she would take no refusal.
Slightly above a whisper, Skuld told Megumi the awful truth. Megumi's response was to drop the teacup she was slowly brining to her lips. The crash resonated in the small room as the pieces were sent flying to the four corners of the room. Remaining silent for a few minutes, they all just let it sink in. A steady dripping sound reminded them of the ruined cup and the tea that souped up the dust that had not been cleaned since Belldandy had left. Megumi's mind raced about the way her brother was acting and the things he said, and she grew angry, very angry.
Megumi remembered how Keiichi continually spoke of when Bell returned they'd talk. He told her that he wouldn't do anything with Peorth because he had Belldandy, even if they weren't seeing each other. Keiichi'd tell her during their lunch meetings about how he'd do a few things in his sadness that he was not proud of, the exact 'things' he left out. Megumi guessed that it was the shared bed space. 'He's been holding the torch for Bell this long and for nothing. He's been beating himself up for seeking support for cheating on a girl he'll never see again. And Urd is just letting him wallow in that sorrow!" That was the final straw, and Megumi's fire of agitation became an inferno of anger.
Her face growing red and her voice a shrill yell, "You didn't tell him did you? You're judging him on seeing Peorth out of need for comfort as he waits endlessly for her to return and you won't tell him!"
Urd's shout matched Megumi's in volume, "I can't tell him! Why do I have to be the bearer of bad news! Why can't I tell him good news for a change?"
Skuld sneaked out of the room, driven by an unknown urge to be someplace else, she listened to the urge. The Goddess of the Future was easily able to leave undetected as the two women hurled comments at each other. Megumi now fully understood why Keiichi was acting how he was with Peorth and found she agreed with him. 'Belldandy cheated on him and he wanted to get a form of revenge but not go as far as she did. His beating himself over nothing and Urd is letting him!'
The month of pent up anger, fear, love, and a many other emotions fueled Urd's debate. Face to face, the two continued. Veins showing on Megumi's temple and Urd's slurred alcohol flavored breath brushing Megumi's face. The two harped on Keiichi's, Belldandy's, and even Peorth's choice of action. However it ended when Urd made one slip, and Megumi caught it.
Eyes wide from the epiphany that she had received. "You want Peorth to leave him so you can have him. This whole thing, the anger at him, Peorth, and even your own sister.is so you can get a chance at him." Megumi's face a mockery of joy to finally have a card to play on the aggressive Urd.
Her inner most desire thrown into her face, Urd did the only thing she could, she denied it, "Get out!"
"I plan on it. I don't really want to talk to you right now anyway," Megumi said as she stormed out of the kitchen and then the temple grounds. Walking back to her apartment in the chilling night air, Megumi hoped the dating pair wouldn't be back till morning. Keiichi deserved to be happy just as much as the next person. Who was Urd to make him suffer for her own attempt at happiness? 'Go for it K1, you have my blessing.'
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Twenty minutes later, walking home from the pleasant and relaxing dinner, Keiichi felt Peorth's weight on his side. Claiming she was cold, Peorth and latched onto his side to share warmth. He was plenty warm. Peorth was constantly there for him, but he was starting to think thoughts about the two of them that he didn't humor before.
"Thanks for taking me out tonight, it really was really nice," he said with a smile.
Giving his arm a small squeeze, "It was my pleasure. We should do it more often you know." Peorth meant every word of it. Human courting rituals, the real ones not the ones in Skuld's manga that she had tried long before, were full of hidden happiness. Watching him in the darkness of the theatre, eating his food, and just being with him filled Peorth with what Belldandy used to live with everyday, faults and all.
She know also knew why Belldandy had made her mistake, but she wasn't going to repeat it, she'd be patient. "Keiichi, I think we need to talk about something."
Finding themselves standing outside the temple gates, Keiichi turned to face the woman on his side as he walked. His mind was awaiting Peorth to tell him that she had grown tired of being their for him and was going to leave, or that maybe Belldandy was soon to be back and that the date was the last thing they'd do together. He conveyed all that to Peorth with one word, "Ok."
Looking into his eyes, the Rose Goddess lost her words. Everything she wanted to say evaporated into the light of his eyes. She unlocked her arm from his and forced Keiichi to stop his assent into the compound. As he looked at her quizzically, she found her strength to continue. "Why do you think I'm here right now?"
Feeling the weight of the conversation shift unto him, Keiichi found that honesty was the best policy; he told her why he thought that she was there. He told her that he thought she was their as a friend to help him through this, that he was just a burden with his problems. He also apologized for being such a pain, and saying he knew Peorth most likely wished to be elsewhere.
His response caused a demur laugh to erupt from Peorth's lips. Smiling widely and stepping closer to him, she told Keiichi the truth. "I'm here because I love you Keiichi. With all my heart and soul."
Dumbstruck, Keiichi looked at the goddess before him. All illusions cast aside, he had his suspicions but wouldn't believe them not until she told him. Standing stock still, the man let Peorth wrap her arms around him again, and tilted his head up when she bent slightly closer to him.
From the doorway of the temple, Skuld witnessed the whole thing, and another, Belldandy, was watching what Skuld was seeing.
His mind fogged over by the whole thing, Keiichi suddenly felt Peorth's warm lips on his. Almost instinctively his arms encircled her body and pulled her closer to him. Mind on automatic, Keiichi felt his love for Peorth resonate as well. Nowhere near his love for Belldandy, but at the moment that was forgotten.
In a state of bliss, Peorth pushed forward, opening her lips and causing Keiichi to do the same, her hands attempting to feel is entire back at the same time. The kiss would have intensified more so, if Skuld hadn't fallen over in shock. The crash of body on board broke Keiichi from his emotional state and he pulled away, much to Peorth's dislike.
Realization dawned on the poor boy and he felt ashamed, he'd betrayed Belldandy. A betrayal beyond the small things he had done to feel on par, no this was in his mind to far. Softly pushing himself out of the woman's embrace, Keiichi apologized again and ran into the temple, leaving Peorth to glare at the fallen goddess of the Future and scorn her.
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As Peorth hunted down the rouge Goddess of the Future, Belldandy had finally saw enough. Witnessing Peorth work magic on Keiichi and make such a bold transgression was enough to push the Norn into action.
Speaking in a cool and calculated tone, Belldandy was focused. "We'll have to be quick Holy Bell. We release it, get Keiichi, and hid. Then we free his mind."
Nodding to her master, Holy Bell was in total agreement. They were going to break an even greater taboo than releasing the Lord of Terror. The demons ultimate creation was to be released as their cover. There would be no turning back after that point.
But their love for him wouldn't allow for anything else. They had to have him back, they couldn't let anyone take him away. Those who corrupted the world, corrupted him, and imprisoned her would have to live in the world they created while they lived together in love and happiness.
"Yes, that is how it was to be." Belldandy nodded to her own twisted logic. Looking at her angel, "We'll talk to my sisters, surely they'll agree with me and come with us, a happy family again." The twisting doubt in her mind disavowed, surely Urd would side with her and not Peorth. Belldandy's face was an ugly parody of its usual beauty, as she smiled with the images of punishing Peorth.
Using her magic to transform into her battle gear, Belldandy called upon knowledge know to only the most elite of Kami-sama's Goddesses and Gods. Teleporting to the outer reaches of the solar system, she stood with Holy Bell at her side before the mightiest of Heaven's seals. Finding her footfall on the icy surface of Pluto, the chill of the universe wasn't even noticed by the Goddess. Stepping past crater and debree, Belldandy saw her target.
Virtually hidden under a menagerie of warding seals was a small blue tinted portal. Belldandy could feel the awesome power behind the bindings and of the monster they barely kept in check. The last lingering thread of sanity snapped as she set about her work.
"For my love for Keiichi, for his love for me, for the cleansing of the corrupt world I release you." Belldandy began creating the ward to break the hidden ward. Nobody would know she was their as so few knew of its existence. "Come forth Legion*!" Her voice was commanding and joyous as she envisioned her victory.
Stressing her full powers to the max, Belldandy was just barely able to force her will into affect and let loose her plan. Giving her master support, Holy Bell made ready the next phase.
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Having her plan of showing Keiichi the depth of her love ruined by Skuld, Peorth wasn't really in any mood to have a chat right now. Urd, however, didn't care so the three goddesses sat in a circle in the living room. Skuld seemed in a state of shock, while Urd just looked pissed.
"What did you do to him?" was all Urd said. Having seen Keiichi rush past her and into his room in a state of near hysterics was enough to tell her something had happened.
Looking levelly at the platinum haired goddess, Peorth told Urd that she did nothing that Urd didn't want to do herself. She added that if Skuld hadn't ruined things she'd have done a lot more.
"So that's why he's worse now than before? Because you just kissed him?" Urd wasn't in a very trusting state of mind.
Meekly Skuld offered her opinion, "Maybe he's ashamed because he thinks he betrayed Belldandy?"
The other goddesses paid her no attention, what would a child know of adult affairs. Hurling insults and threats at each other, they almost didn't hear the phone ringing. Skuld did, and answered it.
Putting the receiver back on the phone after the call, Skuld was perplexed. All surface world celestial beings were on high alert in their sections for an entity known as 'Legion.' The only info that she was told was to ask Urd about it.
The dueling Goddess of the Past and of the Roses still had yet to stop to notice anything save the person in front of them. Screaming for quiet, Skuld finally got some attention.
With two sets of eyes on her, both equally angry, Skuld simply asked, "What is Legion?"
The response she received was far from comforting; Urd's jaw unhinged and she sank to the flow, while Peorth's face drained of all color. Skuld reasoned that the obviously knew something. Urd's knowledge came from what little she could pry from Belldandy and her mother. Peorth was granted access to the files as her head of systems administration. Out side of them, only Kami-sama and a handful of the most powerful beings knew of it.
"Why did you ask that Skuld?" they questioned in unison.
Replying with information about the phone call saying Legion was released and is somewhere on Earth, and all available personnel were to scout their location for it.
"What is going on with the planet? Why can't anything go right!" Urd bellowed.
As Urd vented her rage, Peorth felt obligated to tell the uniformed of what exactly they were to be hunting. "Skuld, Legion was and is the greatest weapon the Demons created against us. It was so powerful in fact that it rebelled against them"
Confused by the possibility of a weapon while the dublet system was in place, Skuld asked how any weapon could affect the Heavens at all.
"What Legion is, is an combination of over two-hundred demons, initially. It's an entity that grows and feeds off negative emotions. Hiding anywhere it leeches emotions, growing ever more powerful."
Having her question still not answered, Skuld asked again, "How can it hurt us when it would kill the dublet pair as well?"
Taking a deep breath, Peorth let the last of her information about Legion be known. "When we tried to seal it after its first release, it absorbed us. It didn't kill us, no it made those it captured part of itself, giving it more knowledge, power, and abilities. It was a work of pure evil and we would have finally lost if it hadn't turned and began absorbing demons as well." Peorth noted the fear and shock on the young goddesses face, and rightly so. "Only with a combined assault were we able to seal it. We sealed it so we could try to find a way of liberating its captives instead of killing them."
Feeling sorely left out of the information loop, "Why didn't I know of this thing till now?"
"The battle was so long ago, and Legion's power so great it was decided that both sides would declare ignorance of it. It had to be destroyed but it's to powerful right now. Only the highest ranking of both orders know if it."
Fear creeping deeper into her, "Then who could have the knowledge and power to release it?"
Urd looked to Peorth as she looked to her, they both knew who could. "KEIICHI!"
In a mad dash to his room, deep dread laced their actions. Both hoping they were just over reacting, that it couldn't possibly be Belldandy that would release Legion. But the cards were falling into place.
Why hadn't Mara shown up to gloat? Where did Aoshima go?
But why? Surely Belldandy wouldn't go so far.
Throwing the door open so hard it fell off its hinges, the goddesses saw nothing but an empty room. Empty except for one thing.
Picking a small item off the ground, Urd looked at it carefully.
"What is it Urd?" Peorth asked, the fear reacting a crescendo.
Clenching it in her hand, Urd felt the soft and silky material in her hand and wanted to cry, "Its one of Holy Bell's feathers."
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*Legion is noted in many places. When Jesus performed an exorcism the demon named it self 'Legion.' Legion made other Biblical appearances. Scholars disagree a lot on its concept. I'm borrowing from the more Stephen King Legion from 'IT' where legion is a collection of over 200 demons and the souls of those it killed/driven insane.
Hope you are finding the story a good read and continue to support it. Last chapter coming up soon.Look for it ^_^
Ja Mata
Zentrodie www.geocities.com/zentrodie.geo zentrodie@secondimpact.com